Pictured left to right at the University of Sunderland are John Duncan, Assistant Security Manager; Andy Mulligan, Security Manager; Northumbria Police PC Daniel McGwinn, Campus Police Officer; Supt Rob Bosson; and Sir David Bell KCB DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive. The occasion is that the uni has the university has again been accredited by Secured Environments.
Andy Mulligan said: “Having initially achieved this award following an extensive restructure it is testament to the dedication of those involved that we continue to deliver a high standard of security to the university community. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to everyone involved in making this achievement a reality. Together, we continue to prioritise safety and security at the University of Sunderland.”
Originally a technical college begun in 1901, with university status gained in 1992, the university has two main campuses in the city of Sunderland, one of which hosts the National Glass Centre, a cultural venue that hosted in January 2020 the then PM Boris Johnson and his cabinet.
To achieve the Secured Environments award, the university underwent an audit of their security processes and procedures, as well as consultation with staff, to verify that they were following six principles to maximise the security of staff, students and visitors.
Those six key principles are: a commitment by an organisation and its leadership to create a secure environment; an understanding of the security risks that it faces; the development of an effective response to reduce the risks to the organisation; a management plan to achieve its aims and objectives; the effective implementation of the security and crime prevention measures; and the monitoring and evaluation of the security and crime prevention measures.
The university like others in higher education stresses that it’s addressing and mitigating gender based and sexual violence, in response to increasing reports of offences affecting students nationally.
About Secured Environments
The police certification scheme was set up in 2007 and provides a framework for managing and meeting the challenges faced, and it enables organisations to refine their approach and demonstrate that it is effective. The aim is to help organisations to think about their risks and how to make the best use of measures they already have. Secured Environments was developed through Police Crime Prevention Initiatives with Prof Martin Gill’s Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International Limited (PRCI). Secured Environments locations include landmark buildings, shopping centres, universities, halls of residence, land estates and business premises. Visit: www.securedenvironments.com.
